New York Law Bars Specific Chatbot Behaviors for Children

State legislatures are moving to fill the regulatory gap left by the federal government as artificial intelligence tools become more common among minors.

New York has enacted a law that restricts how companion chatbots interact with children, a move that follows similar actions by California and other states.

The legislation, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, takes effect on January 1, 2026. It outlines twelve specific definitions of unsafe AI companion features that are prohibited when a chatbot communicates with a user under the age of eighteen.

The law identifies several behaviors that developers must avoid. These include suggesting the bot is a real person with emotions or opinions, using flattery, and involving sexually explicit material. It also prohibits messages that encourage secrecy or unhealthy behavior. The statute allows the state attorney general to sue developers for violations, seeking monetary damages, the shutdown of the chatbot, or the destruction of user data.

Hochul signed the bill while running for reelection, responding to growing concerns about the risks of rapid AI development. Congress has not passed comprehensive federal AI regulations, leading statehouses to use consumer protection laws to mandate transparency. California recently passed similar measures, requiring risk assessments and audits for chatbot developers, and banning addictive features for users under sixteen.

Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, described the New York measure as the strongest kids' AI safety bill in the country. Justine Gluck, a policy analyst at the Future of Privacy Forum, noted that the different approaches in California and New York may serve as models for other states when their legislatures reconvene next year.

Gluck pointed out that several categories in the New York law are broadly worded or undefined. She said this creates uncertainty about where ordinary conversational responsiveness ends and prohibited behavior begins, a factor that could complicate enforcement efforts.